Vertical motion adjuster for thermotherapy device

ABSTRACT

A vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapy device includes a conveyance unit provided with a movable member configured to move along a mat, a support unit having a first side and a second side, the first side rotatably coupled to one side of the conveyance unit, and an elevation unit installed between the conveyance unit and the support unit and configured to adjust an angle of inclination of the support unit by raising or lowering the second side of the support unit such that the second side of the support unit is moved in the shape of an arc.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/884,209, filed May 8, 2013, which is a national stageapplication of International Application No. PCT/KR2011/008519, filedNov. 9, 2011, which claims priority to Korean Patent Application No.10-2011-0064845, filed Jun. 30, 2011, and Korean Patent Application No.10-2010-0110787, filed Nov. 9, 2010, the entire contents of all of whichare incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a therapy device for acupressuretherapy and massage, and more particularly, to a vertical motionadjuster installed at a thermotherapy device capable of simultaneouslyaccomplishing a pressing acupressure therapy effect and a pushingacupressure therapy effect.

BACKGROUND

In recent times, a generally used thermotherapy device has beendeveloped into a bed type thermotherapy device to maximize a therapyeffect of a user's spine area for thermotherapy and far-infraredradiation.

Nowadays, most of the bed type thermotherapy devices employ a curvedrail conforming to a spine area of a human body in order to provide amore accurate and precise effect on the user's spine area. However, thethermotherapy device that employs the curved rail of the related art hasnot been able to accomplish an acupressure therapy and massage effectwith the same pressure on the neck area and the waist area correspondingto a user's therapy area. Since the curved rail of the related art isstandardized and the standardized shape is always moved upward anddownward in a state in which the curved rail is mounted in a mat once,in the case of users having different body sizes, a moxibustion devicehas not been able to accomplish the acupressure therapy and massageeffect with the same pressure.

SUMMARY

In order to solve the foregoing and/or other problems, it is an aspectof the present invention to provide a vertical motion adjuster for athermotherapy device capable of simultaneously accomplishing a pressingacupressure therapy effect and a pushing acupressure therapy effect.

The foregoing and/or other aspects of the present invention may beachieved by providing a vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapydevice including: a conveyance unit provided with a movable memberconfigured to move along a mat; a support unit having one side coupledto the conveyance unit; and an elevation unit installed between theconveyance unit and the support unit and configured to raise or lowerthe other side of the support unit.

The elevation unit may include a guide member; and a rotary member incontact with the guide member.

A gear surface may be formed at one side of the guide member, and therotary member may be a pinion meshed with the gear surface.

The gear surface may be formed inside the guide member, and the pinionmay be disposed inside the guide member to come in contact with the gearsurface. The plurality of guide members and the plurality of rotarymembers may be provided.

The plurality of guide members and the plurality of rotary members maybe provided.

A driving member configured to rotate the rotary member may be installedat the conveyance unit.

A gear box configured to transmit a rotational force of the drivingmember to the rotary member may be installed between a rotary shaft ofthe rotary member and a rotary shaft of the driving member.

The conveyance unit and the support unit may be hinged through a hingeunit.

The hinge unit may include protrusion members installed at both sides ofthe conveyance unit; connecting members installed at both sides of thesupport unit; and hinge members passing through the protrusion membersand the connecting members.

A support frame on which a moxibustion device is mounted is installed atan upper surface of the support unit, and the support frame is pivotallyinstalled at a pivot shaft.

A first resilient member having one end supported by the support unitand the other end supported by the support frame may be installed at thepivot shaft, and the first resilient member may be configured to apply aresilient force to the support frame such that one moxibustion deviceadjacent to the coupling position of the conveyance unit and the supportunit is moved upward.

A temperature detecting member configured to detect a temperature of themoxibustion device may be provided, and a second resilient memberconfigured to apply a resilient force in a direction in which themoxibustion device is moved upward may be installed at the temperaturedetecting member.

The second resilient member may be a coating surrounding the temperaturedetecting member.

An upwardly moving distance of the one moxibustion device adjacent tothe coupling position of the conveyance unit and the support unit isdifferent from an upwardly moving distance of the other moxibustiondevice opposite to the one moxibustion device with respect to the pivotshaft.

The upwardly moving distance of the one moxibustion device is largerthan that of the other moxibustion device.

Inclination angles may be formed at a lower end of the support frame,and the inclination angle directed toward the one moxibustion device maybe set to be smaller than the inclination angle directed toward theother moxibustion device.

A protrusion may extend downward from a lower end of the support frame,inclination angles may be formed at a lower end of the protrusion, andthe inclination angle directed toward the one moxibustion device may beset to be smaller than the inclination angle directed toward the othermoxibustion device.

An absorption member protruding upward toward the lower end of thesupport frame may be formed at the upper surface of the support unit,and a height of the absorption member protruding upward toward the onemoxibustion device may be larger than that of the absorption memberprotruding upward toward the other moxibustion device.

A gear member having a gear surface formed at one side thereof may beinstalled at the guide member, and the gear member may be configured asa detachable structure.

A limit switch may be installed at any one of the conveyance unit andthe guide member, a detection protrusion may be installed at the other,and when the detection protrusion enters the limit switch, a loweringoperation of the support unit may be stopped.

A driving member configured to rotate the rotary member may be provided,and a rotation detection member configured to detect a raising operationof the guide member may be installed at the driving member.

The coupling position of the conveyance unit and the support unit may bedisposed at a position lower than an upper end surface of the supportunit.

The conveyance unit and the support unit may be hinged by a hinge unit.

The hinge unit may include protrusion members installed at both sides ofthe conveyance unit, connecting members installed at both sides of thesupport unit, and hinge members passing through the protrusion memberand the connecting member.

A pin hole through which a pin passes may be formed in the hinge member.

An accommodating space into which the support unit enters may be formedin the conveyance unit.

A through-hole through which the elevation unit passes may be formed ina center of the conveyance unit.

A reinforcement rib formed along an edge of the conveyance unit tosurround the through-hole may be formed at a base surface of theconveyance unit.

The plurality of reinforcement ribs may be formed in a lengthwisedirection of the conveyance unit.

The conveyance unit may be manufactured by a die-casting process suchthat the reinforcement rib, the side surface plate, and the rollerfixing shaft formed at the conveyance unit are integrally formed.

A cable configured to connect a circuit member installed under theconveyance unit and a circuit member installed under the support unitmay be provided, a long hole through which the cable passes may beformed in the conveyance unit, and the long hole may have a length in alengthwise direction larger than a length in a widthwise direction.

A projection surface curved toward a center of the long hole may beformed at an inner surface in the lengthwise direction of the long hole.

A cover member may be installed at an inner surface in the lengthwisedirection of the long hole.

According to the vertical motion adjuster for the thermotherapy deviceof the present invention, the following effects are provided.

First, since the pressing acupressure therapy effect and the pushingacupressure therapy effect can be simultaneously accomplished as themoxibustion device is moved and raised in an arc shape, thethermotherapy effect as well as the acupressure therapy effect can beimproved through the moxibustion device.

Second, even in a state in which the resilient member is installed atthe support unit and the support unit is raised, the acupressure therapyand massage effect can be effectively provided.

Third, the accommodating space in which the support unit is accommodatedis formed in the conveyance unit to reduce the size of the apparatus,and the conveyance unit, the support unit and the gear member areconfigured in a detachable manner, enabling maintenance thereof.

Fourth, the through-hole through which the guide member passes is formedin the center of the conveyance unit, and the long hole through whichthe cable passes is formed in the conveyance unit, improving durability.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent and more readily appreciated from the followingdescription of exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermotherapy device including avertical motion adjuster according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the vertical motion adjuster accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vertical motion adjusteraccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the vertical motion adjuster accordingto the first embodiment of the present invention, when seen from a lowerside thereof;

FIG. 5 is views showing a state in which a moxibustion device of thevertical motion adjuster according to the present invention is raised,FIG. 5 showing a perspective view,

FIG. 6 showing an exploded perspective view, and

FIG. 7 showing a perspective view when seen from a lower side thereof;

FIG. 6 is views showing a vertical motion adjuster according to a secondembodiment of the vertical motion adjuster according to the presentinvention,

FIG. 8 showing a perspective view when seen from an upper side thereof,and

FIG. 9 showing a perspective view when seen from a lower side thereof;

FIG. 10A is a plan view of the vertical motion adjuster according to thesecond embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 10B is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 10A

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the vertical motion adjuster according tothe second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 10A

FIG. 12B is a side view of a support frame of the vertical motionadjuster of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 10A;

FIGS. 14 and 15 are exploded views of the vertical motion adjusteraccording to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14showing a bottom view of a support unit, and FIG. 15 showing a bottomview of a conveyance unit; and

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along line D-D of FIG. 10A.

Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and the arrangement of components set forthin the following description or illustrated in the following drawings.The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orof being carried out in various ways.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a vertical motion adjuster for athermotherapy device including: a conveyance unit provided with amovable member configured to move along a mat; a support unit having oneside coupled to the conveyance unit; and an elevation unit installedbetween the conveyance unit and the support unit and configured to raiseor lower the other side of the support unit.

An embodiment of a vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapy deviceaccording to the present invention will be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermotherapy device including avertical motion adjuster according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is aperspective view of the vertical motion adjuster according to the firstembodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is an exploded perspectiveview of the vertical motion adjuster according to the first embodimentof the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of thevertical motion adjuster according to the first embodiment of thepresent invention, when seen from a lower side thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the thermotherapy device according to theembodiment provides the vertical motion adjuster including a conveyanceunit 100 having a movable member that can move along a mat, a supportunit 200 having one side coupled to the conveyance unit 100, and anelevation unit 300 disposed between the conveyance unit 200 and thesupport unit 200 and configured to raise or lower the other side of thesupport unit 200.

The thermotherapy device includes a thermotherapy mat 1 having a hollowsection, and a moving apparatus configured to move the vertical motionadjuster in a major axis direction of the hollow section. According tonecessity, an auxiliary mat extending from the thermotherapy mat may befurther provided.

The moving apparatus includes a motor unit 2, and a conveyance unit 3coupled to the vertical motion adjuster and configured to move thevertical motion adjuster forward and rearward in the major axisdirection of the hollow section according to a rotational force of themotor unit 2. Here, the conveyance unit 3 may use various configurationssuch as a belt, a chain, a screw, or the like. Here, the major axisdirection of the hollow section refers to a lengthwise direction of auser's spine.

While not shown, a control unit configured to control the respectivedevices, parts, and units, an input unit configured to receive a controlinput of a user, a power input unit configured to provide an externalpower source, and so on, may be further provided.

The conveyance unit 100 of the vertical motion adjuster includes aplate-shaped body, and movable members 110 disposed at both sides of thebody. In addition, as described above, the body of the conveyance unit100 is coupled to the conveyance unit 3 of the moving apparatus. As aresult, the conveyance unit 100 can move forward and rearward in themajor axis direction of the hollow section. In addition, as one end ofthe support unit 200 is coupled to the body of the conveyance unit 100,the support unit 200 can also move with the conveyance unit 100.

The body of the conveyance unit 100 may be constituted by a plurality ofpieces, and in this case, an acupressure therapy and massage can besimultaneously performed at various areas of the user's body.

A moxibustion device 210 is placed on the support unit 200 of theembodiment. The moxibustion device 210 includes a cap type moxibustiondevice and a roller type moxibustion device, which are configured toprovide a warm moxibustion effect and an acupressure therapy effect tothe user's neck and waist areas. Accordingly, when the support unit 200arrives at a position where the acupressure therapy is needed, thesupport unit 200 is raised and lowered to provide the acupressuretherapy effect to the user.

One side of the support unit 200 is coupled to the conveyance unit 100,and the elevation unit 300 is provided at the other side of the supportunit 200.

While the one side of the support unit 200 and the conveyance unit 100may be hinged by a hinge member 430 (to be described later), thecoupling is not limited thereto but may be performed by a bolt and anut, and any kind of coupling is also possible as long as the other sideof the support unit 200 can be raised and lowered.

The other side of the support unit 200 is raised and lowered by theelevation unit 300. As described above, since the one side of thesupport unit 200 is coupled to the conveyance unit 100, only the otherside of the support unit 200 is raised and lowered. That is, the supportunit 200 is raised and lowered while forming an inclination angle withthe conveyance unit 100. Preferably, the other side of the support unit200 is moved in an arc shape about the one side of the support unit 200.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the moxibustion device210 installed at the support unit 200 is moved upward and forward sothat a pressing acupressure therapy effect and a pushing acupressuretherapy effect can be simultaneously provided to the user.

A coupling position of the conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200may be the front or the rear of the support unit 200. That is, when thefront of the support unit 200 is coupled thereto, the rear of thesupport unit 200 is moved in an arc shape, and when the rear of thesupport unit 200 is coupled thereto, the front of the support unit 200is moved in an arc shape.

Here, when a moving direction of the vertical motion adjuster is set asa reference line, any one edge of edges of the support unit 200perpendicular or crossing the reference line is fixedly coupled to theconveyance unit 100.

The elevation unit 300 is installed between the conveyance unit 100 andthe support unit 200 to raise and lower the one side of the support unit200, and thus an angle between the conveyance unit 100 and the supportunit 200 is varied to raise and lower the moxibustion device 210.

The elevation unit 300 includes a guide member 310, and a rotary member320 in contact with the guide member 310. In addition, the elevationunit 300 may further include a driving member 330 configured to rotatethe rotary member 320, and a gear box 340 configured to transmit arotational force of the driving member 330 to the rotary member 320.

The guide member 310 supports the one side of the support unit 200.

The guide member 310 has a portion in contact with the rotary member 320and the portion in contact with the rotary member 320 may have an arcshape. According to the above-mentioned configuration, the other side ofthe support unit 200 can be smoothly raised and lowered.

As the rotary member 320 is rotated while the support unit 200 islowered, the guide member 310 passes through the conveyance unit 100 andmoves downward. As a result, the entire height of the vertical motionadjuster can be reduced.

The rotary member 320 is installed to come in contact with the guidemember 310 to raise and lower the guide member 310.

A gear surface 311 is formed at one side of the guide member 310, andthe rotary member 320 is a pinion 321 meshed with the gear surface 311.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the gear surface 311formed at the guide member 310 is meshed with the pinion 321 to preventslippage of the contact area between the gear surface 311 and the pinion321, and thus, the acupressure therapy and massage effect can beimproved.

When the gear surface 311 is configured to enable attachment anddetachment, maintenance thereof becomes easy.

Of course, in the embodiment, the guide member 310 is raised and loweredthrough a gear mechanism. However, the present invention is not limitedto the gear mechanism, and various modifications may be made as long asthe guide member 310 can be raised and lowered. Of course, in order toprovide the above-mentioned configuration, it is effective to preventslippage of the contact area between the guide member and the rotarymember. For example, a rubber pad may be installed at areas of the guidemember 310 and the rotary member 320 in contact with each other toadhere them, and a configuration of a linear motion (LM) guide type maybe added to be replaced with the gear mechanism. In this case, accordingto necessity, the configuration of the guide member 310 may be varied.

As shown in FIG. 5, the gear surface 311 is formed inside the guidemember 310. The pinion 321 may be disposed inside the guide member 310to come in contact with the gear surface 311.

Here, the inside is in a direction (a leftward direction of FIG. 4)directed toward the coupling position of the conveyance unit 100 and thesupport unit 200.

When the pinion 321 is rotated clockwise with respect to FIG. 4, theguide member 310 is rotated about the coupling position of theconveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200. According to theabove-mentioned configuration, the guide member 310 can be rapidlyraised or lowered.

As a radius of rotation is relatively reduced, a length of an arc neededto raise or lower the guide member 310 is also reduced. That is, theguide member 310 can be raised or lowered even when the pinion 321 isrelatively slightly rotated, and since the pinion 321 is relativelyslightly rotated, power consumption of a motor configured to rotate thepinion 321 is reduced.

The plurality of guide members 310 may be installed in a widthwisedirection (a direction perpendicular to the reference line as describedabove) of the support unit 200. Accordingly, the support unit 200 can beprevented from being inclined toward the one side when the support unit200 is raised and lowered.

A length in the widthwise direction of the guide member 310 may bewithin a certain range such that the rotary member 320 can easily raisethe guide member 310.

When the length in the widthwise direction of the support unit is set to100, a length in a widthwise direction of the guide member (a leg) maybe 1 to 20.

When the length in the widthwise direction of the guide member 310 istoo short, durability is weakened, the user cannot receive theacupressure therapy and massage, mass production becomes difficult dueto the complicated configuration caused by the excessive length, and aspace for installation of another component (for example, a motor or thelike) is insufficient. In addition, the width can be variously variedaccording to the number of installed guide members.

In the vertical motion adjuster according to the present invention, theconveyance unit 100 includes the driving member 330 configured to rotatethe rotary member 320. A BLDC motor may be used as the driving member330.

The driving member 330 may be installed under the conveyance unit 100.Accordingly, it is effective if the rotary member 320 is also installedunder the conveyance unit 100. Of course, the present invention is notlimited thereto but the rotary member 320 may be installed in a spacebetween the conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200.

While the driving member 330 may be directly connected to the rotarymember 320, when the driving member 330 cannot be directly connected tothe rotary member 320 due to a structural problem, a separateconfiguration such as the gear box 340 may be additionally provided toconnect them. In this case, maintenance of the gear box 340 and therotary member 320 can be conveniently performed.

Due to the structural problem, as shown in FIG. 4, the driving member330 is mounted such that the rotary shaft is disposed in a longitudinaldirection (an x-axis direction, i.e., a direction of the referenceline). The rotary member 320 is mounted such that the rotary shaft isdisposed in a lateral direction (a y-axis direction, i.e., a directionperpendicular to the reference line). In this case, the gear box 340 isconfigured to transmit power from the rotary shaft in the longitudinaldirection (the x-axis direction) of the driving member 330 to the rotaryshaft in the lateral direction (the y-axis direction) of the rotarymember 320. Of course, the present invention is not limited thereto butvarious members (structures, mechanisms, and so on) may be used totransmit power.

A bevel gear, a worm gear, or the like, may be used as the gear box 340to easily transmit power when the rotary shafts are not parallel to eachother.

At least one side of the conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200are hinged by a hinge unit 400. The hinge unit 400 includes protrusionmembers 410 installed at both sides of the conveyance unit 100,connecting members 420 installed at both sides of the support unit 200,and the hinge members 430 passing through the protrusion members 410 andthe connecting members 420.

As shown in FIG. 3, the hinge unit 400 functions to rotatably fix oneside of the support unit 200 to the conveyance unit 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the protrusion member 410 is constituted by a pairof vertical frames 411 stood up at both sides thereof to provide asufficient supporting force. The connecting member 420 is insertedbetween the vertical frames 411. The hinge member 430 passes through thepair of vertical frames 411 and the connecting member 420 and is fixedthereto to rotatably support the support unit 200.

The vertical motion adjuster according to the embodiment is a one-sideopening/closing type in which the one side is raised and lowered. Themoxibustion device 210 installed on the support unit 200 is configuredto slightly move the user during the acupressure therapy and massage.Since a noise or impact may occur while the moxibustion device 210 isslightly moved as described above, an absorption member 230 such as arubber material may be disposed between the support unit 200 and themoxibustion device 210.

Hereinafter, an operation of the present invention will be describedbelow.

FIG. 5 is views showing a state in which the moxibustion device of thevertical motion adjuster according to the present invention is raised,FIG. 5 showing a perspective view, FIG. 6 showing an explodedperspective view, and FIG. 7 showing a perspective view when seen from alower side thereof.

The support unit 200 basically maintains the conveyance unit 100 in ahorizontal state and the moxibustion device 210 in a lowered state. As aresult, as described above, the guide member 310 constituting theelevation unit 300 is configured to pass through the conveyance unit 100to protrude downward as shown in FIG. 5.

As described above, when the driving member 330 is operated to rotatethe rotary shaft of the driving member 330 in a state in which ahorizontal posture of the support unit 200 is maintained, the rotaryshaft of the rotary member 320 connected to the gear box 340 is rotated.

As the rotary member 320 is rotated, the guide member 310 in contactwith the rotary member 320 is raised. Accordingly, as the guide member310 installed at the other side of the support unit 200 is raised, theother side of the support unit 200 is raised about the hinge unit 400,and as shown in FIG. 5, finally, the other side of the support unit 200is inclined upward at a certain angle.

When the rotary shaft of the driving member 330 is rotated in anopposite direction thereof, the upwardly inclined support unit 200 islowered, and when the support unit 200 is returned to the horizontalstate, rotation of the driving member 300 is stopped.

As described above, when the user receives the acupressure therapy andmassage as the support unit 200 is repeatedly raised or lowered, thepressing effect and the pushing effect can be simultaneouslyaccomplished.

FIG. 6 is views showing a vertical motion adjuster according to a secondembodiment of the vertical motion adjuster according to the presentinvention, FIG. 8 showing a perspective view when seen from an upperside thereof, and FIG. 9 showing a perspective view when seen from alower side thereof, FIG. 10A is a plan view of the vertical motionadjuster according to the second embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the vertical motion adjuster according tothe second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 12A is across-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 10A, and FIG. 13 is across-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 10A.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 12A, the vertical motion adjuster includes aplurality of moxibustion devices 210 disposed on an upper surface of thesupport unit 200. The moxibustion device 210 is mounted on a supportframe 220 configured to pivot about a pivot shaft 221. Accordingly, themoxibustion devices 210 can be moved upward and downward to conform tothe user's body curve while the acupressure therapy and massage isperformed. According to the above-mentioned configuration, even when theuser's body sizes are different, the acupressure therapy and massageeffect can be effectively provided.

The moxibustion devices 210 are installed at both ends of the supportframe 220. Two moxibustion devices 210 are fixedly supported by onesupport frame 220. Of course, the present invention is not limitedthereto but more than two or less than two of the moxibustion devices210 may be fixedly supported by the one support frame 220. In addition,it is effective if the moxibustion device 210 is disposed perpendicularto an extension line of the major axis direction with respect to thereference line.

One moxibustion device 211 disposed adjacent to the coupling position ofthe conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200 and the othermoxibustion device 212 disposed at a position opposite to the onemoxibustion device 211 with respect to the pivot shaft 221 are provided.That is, the two moxibustion devices (the one moxibustion device and theother moxibustion device) are disposed at front and rear sides withrespect to the pivot shaft 221 of the support frame 220. The othermoxibustion device 212 is disposed relatively closer to a couplingsurface region of the conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200 thanthe one moxibustion device 212.

The vertical motion adjuster according to the embodiment is configuredsuch that the other side of the support unit 200 is raised and loweredin a state in which the one sides of the conveyance unit 100 and thesupport unit 200 are coupled. That is, the other side of the supportunit 200 is raised in an arc shape. As the other side of the supportunit 200 is raised, the horizontal state of the one moxibustion device211 and the other moxibustion device 212 cannot be maintained, and theother moxibustion device 212 is raised to a relatively higher positionthan the one moxibustion device 211.

As the other moxibustion device 212 is disposed at the relatively higherposition than the one moxibustion device 211, the user's weight isexcessively applied to the other moxibustion device 212 only, and theacupressure therapy and massage effect is provided through the othermoxibustion device 212 only.

Of course, when the user's weight is applied to the other moxibustiondevice 212, the support frame 220 is pivoted to move the othermoxibustion device 212 downward. However, if the other moxibustiondevice 212 is configured to be moved downward by the user's weight only,the user may feel pain.

In the embodiment, a first resilient member 222 is provided such thatthe other moxibustion device 212 can be moved downward by a forcesmaller than the user's weight. The first resilient member 222 functionsto rapidly lower the other moxibustion device 212 and simultaneouslyrapidly raise the one moxibustion device 211.

As shown in FIG. 13, one end of the first resilient member 222 issupported by the support unit 200, the other end is supported by thesupport frame 220, and the first resilient member 222 applies aresilient force to the support frame 220 such that the one moxibustiondevice 211 is rapidly moved upward.

That is, as the first resilient member 222 is provided, a raisingoperation of the one moxibustion device 211 can be rapidly performed. Asa result, even in a state in which the support unit 200 is raised, sincethe one moxibustion device 211 and the other moxibustion device 212 canbe rapidly aligned in the horizontal state, the acupressure therapy andmassage effect can be effectively accomplished.

While a coil spring or a torsion spring may be used as the firstresilient member 222, the present invention is not limited thereto butany elastic member such as a leaf spring may be used as long as theelastic member can apply a resilient force.

In the embodiment, a temperature detecting member 213 configured todetect a temperature of the moxibustion device 210 is provided. However,the temperature detecting member 213 should be in contact with themoxibustion device 210 even while the moxibustion device 210 is movedupward and downward. For this, in the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13,the temperature detecting member 213 includes a second resilient member214. The second resilient member 214 applies a resilient force in adirection in which the moxibustion device 210 is moved upward. That is,even when the moxibustion device 210 is moved upward, the temperaturedetecting member 213 is also moved upward by the second resilient member214, and the contact state therebetween is not varied. When themoxibustion device 210 is moved downward, since the moxibustion device210 is moved downward while overcoming the resilient force of the secondresilient member 214, the contact state therebetween is not varied evenin this case.

While a conventional coil spring or leaf spring may be used as thesecond resilient member 222 as described above, when a member having aresilient force is used as a coating surrounding the temperaturedetecting member 213, the contact state therebetween can be maintained,and the configuration can be simplified.

The one moxibustion device 211 and the other moxibustion device 212 aremounted on the support frame 220 to be moved upward and downward whilethe acupressure therapy and massage is performed. Here, upward anddownward moving distances of the one moxibustion device 211 and theother moxibustion device 212 may be different from each other.

While there is no problem when the support unit 200 is maintained in thehorizontal posture, since the other moxibustion device 212 is disposedat a position relatively higher than the one moxibustion device 211 in astate in which the support unit 200 is raised, the one moxibustiondevice 211 should be moved upward such that the horizontal posture ofthe one moxibustion device 211 and the other moxibustion device 212 ismaintained.

More preferably, an upwardly movable distance of the one moxibustiondevice 211 may be larger than that of the other moxibustion device 212.

In order for the one moxibustion device 211 to have the upwardly movabledistance larger than that of the other moxibustion device 212, as shownin FIG. 12B, inclination angles are formed at a lower end of the supportframe 220. Here, an inclination angle α1 directed toward the onemoxibustion device 211 is set to be smaller than an inclination angle β1directed toward the other moxibustion device 212.

In addition, a protrusion 223 extending downward is formed at the lowerend of the support frame 220, and inclination angles are formed at alower end of the protrusion 223. Here, an inclination angle α2 directedtoward the one moxibustion device 211 may be set to be smaller than aninclination angle β2 directed toward the other moxibustion device 212.

As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the absorption member 230 protrudesupward from an upper surface of the support unit 200 toward the lowerend of the support frame 220. Accordingly, an impact or the like thatcan be generated due to pivotal movement of the support frame 200 duringthe acupressure therapy and massage can be absorbed. The absorptionmember 230 functions to apply a resilient force to the support frame 220as well as to absorb the impact. That is, the support frame 200 canrapidly maintain the parallel state after the pivotal movement. Here, aheight of the absorption member 230 protruding upward toward the onemoxibustion device 211 may be set to be larger than that of theabsorption member 230 protruding upward toward the other moxibustiondevice 212. That is, as the height of the absorption member 230installed under the other moxibustion device 212 is relatively lowerthan that of the absorption member 230 installed under the onemoxibustion device 211, the upwardly movable distance of the onemoxibustion device 211 is relatively increased.

A material of the absorption member 230 may be varied to adjust theresilient force applied from the absorption member 230 to the supportframe 220.

While the guide member 310 according to the first embodiment isconstituted by the portion extending downward to come in contact withthe rotary member 320 and the portion configured to connect the upperend of the downwardly extending portion thereto, the guide member 310according to the second embodiment is constituted by only the portion incontact with the rotary member 320.

The vertical motion adjuster according to the embodiment is manufacturedthrough an aluminum die-casting process to improve weight reduction,productivity, and quality stability. In order to increase strength, asshown in FIG. 12A, a gear member 350 formed of steel and having a gearsurface 311 formed at one side thereof is installed at the guide member310. The gear member 350 may be configured as a detachable structure.Accordingly, the gear member 350 can be easily exchanged with a new onewhen the gear member 350 is worn due to repeated uses.

When the lower end of the support unit 200 comes in contact with theupper end of the conveyance unit 100 upon lowering of the support unit200, the lowering operation should be stopped. If the rotary member 320is rotated to lower the support unit 200 even in a state in which thelower end of the support unit 200 is in contact with the upper end ofthe conveyance unit 100, durability may be decreased.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 9, the conveyance unit 100 includesa limit switch 120, and a detection protrusion 312 is formed at theupper end of the guide member 310 so that the lowering operation of thesupport unit 200 is stopped when the detection protrusion 312 enters thelimit switch 120, maintaining durability. The conveyance unit 100 mayinclude the detection protrusion 312, and the limit switch 120 may beinstalled at the upper end of the guide member 310.

A rotation detection member 331 (FIG. 4) may be installed at the drivingmember 330 configured to rotate the rotary member 320. The rotationdetection member 331 is configured to detect the raising operation ofthe guide member 310 and stop the raising operation of the support unit200 when the support unit 200 is raised to the highest position.

A pair of moxibustion devices 210 are arranged on the support unit 200in a widthwise direction thereof. Accordingly, the user's body can beevenly pressed at both sides about the user's spine.

In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13, the coupling position of theconveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200 is formed at a positionlower than an upper end surface of the support unit 200. If the couplingposition of the conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200 is formedat a position higher than the upper end surface of the support unit 200,since the coupling area comes in contact with the user while theacupressure therapy and massage is performed, the user feels irritationand inconvenience.

As shown in FIG. 10A, the conveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200are hinged by a hinge unit 400, and the hinge unit 400 is constituted byprotrusion members 410 disposed at both sides of the conveyance unit100, connecting members 420 disposed at both sides of the support unit200, and hinge members 430 passing through the protrusion members 410and the connecting members 420. That is, the conveyance unit 100 and thesupport unit 200 are configured to be easily separated from each otherto enable easy maintenance.

A horizontal position through which the hinge member 430 passes isformed at a position lower than the upper end surface of the supportunit 200. That is, the horizontal position of the connecting member 420installed at the support unit 200 and the protrusion member 410installed at the conveyance unit 100 is formed at a position lower thanthe upper end surface of the support unit 200. One end of the connectingmember 420 installed at the support unit 200 may extend downward to beinserted into the conveyance unit 100.

As shown in FIG. 10B, a pin hole 432 through which a pin 431 passes maybe formed in the hinge member 430. The pin 431 may have an R shape.Accordingly, the hinge member 430 cannot be easily separated therefromwhile the acupressure therapy and massage is performed.

As shown in FIG. 13, the conveyance unit 100 may have an accommodatingspace 130 that the support unit 200 can enter. The conveyance unit 100is constituted by a bottom plate and a side surface plate 160, and thesupport unit 200 is inserted into the accommodating space 130 surroundedby the bottom plate and the side surface plate 160.

When the support unit 200 enters the accommodating space 130, a verticalthickness of the vertical motion adjuster according to the embodiment isreduced to form a compact configuration.

As shown in FIG. 11, a through-hole 140 through which the elevation unit300 passes is formed in the center of the conveyance unit 100. Morespecifically, the guide member 310 passes through the through-hole 140.If the through-hole 140 is formed close to the edge of the conveyanceunit 100, a crack may occur due to an impact applied to the conveyanceunit 100. In the embodiment, the through-hole 140 is formed at thecenter of the conveyance unit to prevent generation of the crack.

In addition, in order to effectively prevent generation of the crack, areinforcement rib 150 is formed at a base surface of the conveyance unit100. The reinforcement rib 150 is formed along the edge of theconveyance unit 100 to surround the through-hole 140.

Here, the plurality of reinforcement ribs 150 may be formed in alengthwise direction of the conveyance unit 100. The conveyance unit 100has a length in a lengthwise direction smaller than that in a widthwisedirection. This is because cracks are more frequently generated in thelengthwise direction.

In the embodiment, the guide member 310 is disposed at the center of theconveyance unit 100, and the gear member 350 is detachably installed atthe outside of the guide member 310 (a leftward direction of FIG. 12A).In addition, the rotary member 320 is also installed at the outside ofthe guide member 310. The user's weight is transmitted to the supportunit 200 when the support unit 200 is raised and lowered. If the rotarymember 320 is installed inside the guide member 310, the guide member310 may be spaced apart from the rotary member 320 due to thetransmitted weight. Like in the embodiment, when the rotary member 320is installed outside the guide member 310, a contact force between theguide member 310 and the rotary member 302 is increased by the user'sweight, and the elevation can be stably performed.

When the vertical motion adjuster is not manufactured by theconventional die-casting process, a side surface of the conveyance unit100 is bent to form the side surface plate 160, the reinforcement rib150 is attached to the base surface of the conveyance unit 100 bywelding, and a roller fixing shaft 170 is fixed to the side surfaceplate 160 by welding, so that work becomes complicated and a dimensiontolerance is increased due to thermal deformation by the welding.

As described above, the vertical motion adjuster according to theembodiment is manufactured through an aluminum die-casting process, andas shown in FIG. 9, the reinforcement rib 150, the side surface plate160 and the roller fixing shaft 170 are integrally formed, improvingweight reduction, productivity, and quality stability.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are exploded views of the vertical motion adjusteraccording to the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 14showing a bottom view of a support unit, FIG. 15 showing a bottom viewof a conveyance unit, and FIG. 16 showing a cross-sectional view takenalong line D-D of FIG. 10A.

As shown in FIG. 14, a cable 500 for signal transmission and powersupply is installed between circuit members 180 and 230 installed at theconveyance unit 100 and the support unit 200, respectively. The cable500 extends from the circuit member 180 installed under the conveyanceunit 100 to the circuit member 230 installed at the support unit 200.Here, the cable 500 may pass through a long hole 190 formed in thesupport unit 200 rather than an outer edge of the support unit 200 to beconnected thereto. If the cable 500 passes through the outer edge of thesupport unit 200 and is connected thereto, the cable 500 is exposed tothe outside and durability may be easily decreased.

However, as shown in FIG. 15, the long hole 190 through which the cable500 passes may have a length in the lengthwise direction larger thanthat in the widthwise direction. This is because when the support unit200 is repeatedly raised or lowered, the cable 500 is moved forward andrearward in the lengthwise direction. As described above, when the longhole 190 is elongated in the lengthwise direction, since a space inwhich the cable 500 can move forward and rearward is formed, durabilityof the cable 500 can be maintained.

As shown in FIG. 16, a projection surface 191 curved toward the centerof the long hole 190 may be formed in an inner surface having the longhole 190. This is because the cable 500 comes in contact with the curvedprojection surface 191 during repeated forward and rearward movement tomaintain durability. More preferably, the projection surface 191 may beformed in only an inner surface in the lengthwise direction of the longhole 190. This because the cable 500 is mainly moved forward andrearward, and if the projection surface 191 is also formed in an innersurface in the widthwise direction, work may become complicated andproductivity may be decreased.

The foregoing description concerns an exemplary embodiment of theinvention, is intended to be illustrative, and should not be construedas limiting the invention. The present teachings can be readily appliedto other types of devices and apparatuses. Many alternatives,modifications, and variations within the scope and spirit of the presentinvention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A vertical motion adjuster for a thermotherapydevice comprising: a conveyance unit provided with a movable memberconfigured to move along a mat; a support unit having a first side and asecond side, the first side rotatably coupled to one side of theconveyance unit; and an elevation unit installed between the conveyanceunit and the support unit and configured to adjust an angle ofinclination of the support unit by raising or lowering the second sideof the support unit such that the second side of the support unit ismoved in the shape of an arc.
 2. The vertical motion adjuster accordingto claim 1, wherein the elevation unit comprises: a guide member; and arotary member in contact with the guide member.
 3. The vertical motionadjuster according to claim 2, wherein the guide member includes adetachable gear surface installed inside the guide member, and therotary member is a pinion installed inside the guide member andconfigured to mesh with the detachable gear surface.
 4. The verticalmotion adjuster according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is one ofa plurality of guide members, and the rotary member is one of aplurality of rotary members.
 5. The vertical motion adjuster accordingto claim 2, wherein the conveyance unit includes a driving memberconfigured to rotate the rotary member, and wherein the elevation unitincludes a gear box configured to transmit a rotational force of thedriving member to the rotary member, the gear box installed between arotary shaft of the rotary member and a rotary shaft of the drivingmember.
 6. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, whereinthe conveyance unit and the support unit are hinged through a hingeunit.
 7. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 6, wherein thehinge unit comprises: protrusion members installed at both sides of theconveyance unit; connecting members installed at both sides of thesupport unit; and hinge members passing through the protrusion membersand the connecting members.
 8. The vertical motion adjuster according toclaim 1, further comprising a support frame on which a moxibustiondevice is mounted, wherein the support frame is installed at an uppersurface of the support unit, and the support frame is pivotallyinstalled at a pivot shaft.
 9. The vertical motion adjuster according toclaim 8, further comprising a first resilient member having a first endsupported by the support unit and a second end supported by the supportframe, wherein the first resilient member is installed at the pivotshaft, and wherein the first resilient member is configured to apply aresilient force to the support frame such that one moxibustion deviceadjacent to a coupling position of the conveyance unit and the supportunit is moved upward.
 10. The vertical motion adjuster according toclaim 9, further comprising a temperature detecting member configured todetect a temperature of the moxibustion device, and a second resilientmember installed at the temperature detecting member, the secondresilient member configured to apply a resilient force in a direction inwhich the moxibustion device is moved upward.
 11. The vertical motionadjuster according to claim 8, wherein the moxibustion device is a firstmoxibustion device, the vertical motion adjuster further comprising asecond moxibustion device, wherein an upwardly moving distance of thefirst moxibustion device adjacent to a coupling position of theconveyance unit and the support unit is different from an upwardlymoving distance of the second moxibustion device opposite to the firstmoxibustion device with respect to the pivot shaft.
 12. The verticalmotion adjuster according to claim 11, wherein the upwardly movingdistance of the first moxibustion device is larger than the upwardlymoving distance of the second moxibustion device.
 13. The verticalmotion adjuster according to claim 12, wherein a protrusion extendsdownward from a lower end of the support frame, inclination angles areformed at a lower end of the protrusion, and the inclination angledirected toward the first moxibustion device is set to be smaller thanthe inclination angle directed toward the second moxibustion device. 14.The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 12, further comprisingan absorption member protruding upward toward the lower end of thesupport frame, wherein the absorption member is formed at the uppersurface of the support unit, and a height of the absorption memberprotruding upward toward the first moxibustion device is larger thanthat of the absorption member protruding upward toward the secondmoxibustion device.
 15. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim2, further comprising a gear member having a gear surface formed at onesurface thereof, wherein the gear member is installed at the guidemember, and the gear member is configured as a detachable structure. 16.The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 2, further comprising alimit switch installed at any one of the conveyance unit and the guidemember, wherein a detection protrusion is installed at the other of theconveyance unit and the guide member, and when the detection protrusionenters the limit switch, a lowering operation of the support unit isstopped.
 17. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 16, furthercomprising a driving member configured to rotate the rotary member, anda rotation detection member configured to detect a raising operation ofthe guide member, wherein the rotation detection member is installed atthe driving member.
 18. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim1, wherein a coupling position of the conveyance unit and the supportunit is disposed at a position lower than an upper end surface of thesupport unit.
 19. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 18,wherein the conveyance unit and the support unit are hinged by a hingeunit, wherein the hinge unit comprises: protrusion members installed atboth sides of the conveyance unit; connecting members installed at bothsides of the support unit; and hinge members passing through theprotrusion member and the connecting member, one end of the connectingmember extending downward to be inserted into the conveyance unit. 20.The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 19, wherein at least oneof the hinge members includes a pin hole through which a pin passes. 21.The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 18, wherein theconveyance unit includes an accommodating space into which the supportunit enters.
 22. The vertical motion adjuster according to claim 1,wherein the conveyance unit includes a through-hole formed in a centerof the conveyance unit through which the elevation unit passes.
 23. Thevertical motion adjuster according to claim 22, wherein a reinforcementrib formed along an edge of the conveyance unit to surround thethrough-hole is formed at a base surface of the conveyance unit, andwherein the reinforcement rib includes a plurality of reinforcement ribsformed in a lengthwise direction of the conveyance unit.
 24. Thevertical motion adjuster according to claim 1, further comprising acable configured to connect a circuit member installed under theconveyance unit and a circuit member installed under the support unit, along hole through which the cable passes is formed in the conveyanceunit, and the long hole has a length in a lengthwise direction largerthan a length in a widthwise direction.
 25. The vertical motion adjusteraccording to claim 24, further comprising a projection surface curvedtoward a center of the long hole, the projection surface formed at aninner surface in the lengthwise direction of the long hole.
 26. Thevertical motion adjuster according to claim 24, further comprising acover member installed at an inner surface in the lengthwise directionof the long hole.